Loose Ends, 12-22-08

The Iraqi journalist who hurled his shoes at President Bush will stand trial on December 31 and could face a jail term of five to 15 years for “aggression against a foreign head of state.” Incidentally, another matter that has become aggressive since the incident is sales for the thrown-shoe manufacturer, which have gone through the roof. If only he would have thrown a Chevy. That would have been helpful marketing. [BBC]

Regulators…mount up! Bernie Madoff, the mastermind behind the “new Enron,” is not only taking down giant accounting firms, but he’s likely inspiring regulation of the hedge fund industry. [Bloomberg]

One Detroit-area Arab- and Muslim-American man’s experience working the stock room was so bad that he wants $12 from Wal-Mart for civil rights violations and harassment. [Law.com]

160-year-old Wall Street law firm Thacher Proffitt & Wood is losing 40 partners to a larger firm. You know what they say about the partners of 160-year-olds. Gold diggers! [The New York Times]

An Oklahoma City University law professor is suing the university for equal pay between genders because she earns 52% less than a man in the same position. “Johnson seeks unspecified damages and an injunction keeping OCU from discriminating against her based on her gender or race.” But wonder if it’s possible that retaliation for publicly bitch-slapping her employer is still on the table. [NewsOK.com]